Duke \Duke\n. [F. duc, fr. L. dux, ducis, leader, commander, fr.
ducere to lead; akin to AS. te['o]n to draw; cf. AS. heretoga
(here army) an army leader, general, G. herzog duke. See
Tue, and cf. Doge, Duchess, Ducat, Duct, Adduce,
Deduct.]
1. A leader; a chief; a prince. [Obs.]
Hannibal, duke of Carthage. --Sir T.
Elyot.
All were dukes once, who were ``duces'' -- captains
or leaders of their people. --Trench.
2. In England, one of the highest order of nobility after
princes and princesses of the royal blood and the four
archbishops of England and Ireland.
3. In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without
the title of king.
Duke's coronet. See Illust. of Coronet.
To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner. See under
Dine.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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